OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and extent of vaginal and perineal trauma among primiparous women after mediolateral and lateral episiotomy. METHODS: In a prospective randomized study at University Hospital Pilsen, Czech Republic, 790 consecutive primiparous women were enrolled between April 2010 and April 2012. Mediolateral episiotomy (MLE) followed an angle of at least 60° from the midline. Lateral episiotomy (LE) started 1-2 cm laterally from the midline and was directed toward the ischial tuberosity. A rectal examination was performed before episiotomy repair. RESULTS: MLE was performed for 390 women, and LE for 400. The groups did not differ in maternal or neonatal characteristics. No difference was found in incidence or extent of vaginal and perineal trauma; or in additional perineal (1.8% vs 1.5%, P=0.6) or vaginal (8.5% vs 10.6%, P=0.2) trauma continuing along the episiotomy incision. The incidence of anal sphincter injury did not differ between MLE and LE (1.5% vs 1.3%, P=0.7). MLE was associated with shorter repair times (P<0.05), less suturing material (P<0.05), and shorter distances from the anus (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Risk of additional vaginal and perineal trauma, and anal sphincter injury after adequately performed mediolateral episiotomy is relatively low and corresponds to that of lateral episiotomy.

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics General University Hospital 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics University Hospital Faculty of Medicine Charles University Pilsen Czech Republic

European Centre of Excellence NTIS New Technologies for Information Society Faculty of Applied Sciences University of West Bohemia Czech Republic

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